Lester c



(Nomoael.)

' L. WOFFORD.

FERTILIZBR DISTRIBUTBR.

' No. 246,851.r Patented sept. 6,1881.` f

LA ATTORN EYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER O. WOFFORD, OF WOODRUFF7 SOUTH CAROLINA.

FERTILIzEn-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 246,851, dated September 6, 1881.

Application filed July 23, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LESTER O. WOFFORD, a citizen of the United States, resident of Woodruft', in the county of Spartanburg and State of South. Carolina, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fertilizer-Distributers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l ot' the drawings is a representation of side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. et is a cross-section, looking from the rear, and Fig. 5 is a detail ofthe agitator.

This invention has relation to machines for distributing fertilizing materials; and it consists in the combination, with the curved slotted hopper-bottom, ofthe vibratory sector, serrated on its curved edge, provided with pins ou its sides, andhavingan openingthrough itfrom side to side, intermediately arranged with reference to the pins, all as hereinafter set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings, the letter a designates the draft-beam and body ofthe machine, having au arm, B, rising from its rear portion, to which handles may be applied. (l designates the hopper, which is secured to said arm and to the top ot' the beam, over a slot, a', made through `said beam longitudinally. Over this slot is arranged in the hopper a bottom plate, b, which is curved longitudinally, its concave side being uppermost. This plate is slotted in the direction of its length, as indicated at c.

In the side walls ofthe hopper are provided bearings d for the rock-shaft e of the sectorshaped agitator D, the lower or convex edge otl which is provided with teeth g, and the sides otl which are provided with laterally-projecting studs h, arranged at different levels, each end ofthe sector being provided with a low stud and a high .stud on opposite sides. With reference to these studs anintermediate opening, k, is made through the agitator, as indicated in the drawings. This construction is designed to facilitate the discharge of the fertilizin g material from the hopper', the studs and teeth being designed to keep the mass in motion over the slot c.

The movement of the material is assisted by means of the opening through the sector, which tends to prevent walling of the material on each side thereof.

The sector-shaft is made with a crank, hat its end, which is connected to the upper end of a pitman, m, the lower end of which is connected to a shorter crank, Z', on the end of one of the journals a ofthe wheel E. This wheel is located under that portion ot the beam which is in rear of the hopper, and its journals are seated in the rearwardly-extended portions p ofthe bearing-arms F, which are secured to the beam at their upper ends, in front of the standard, by means of a bolt, z. Tile standard G is designed to be made in loop form at its lower end, and is attached to the beam above by means of the bolt z. The arrangement is such that the upper portions of the standard G and of the bearings` F are under the .sides otl the hopper, said standard being crossed by said bearings below the beam, and being secured at the intersection by the bolt z2, as indicated in the drawings.

In the frame-work formed by the upper portions ot the bearings and standard is secured the chute H, which is constructed ot metal usually, and opens to the rear between the upper portions, p, ofthe standard. By this construction the beam A is strongly bolted and braced at its slotted portion.

To the lower end ot the standard a suitable opener is designed to be attached, and in rear ot' the wheel coverers K are arranged, the shanks L of which are provided with oblique ange-bearings s at their upper ends, which engage the top ofthe beam in rear ofthe hopper. These coverers are secured to the beam by means of a bolt.

Havingdescribed thisinvention,whatIclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a fertilizer-distributer, the combination, with the slotted beam and the slotted curved bottom of the hopper arranged on the top of said beam, of the vibratory sector-shaped agitator, its lower curved and toothed edge, its laterallyprojecting studs h, and the opening k through said agitator, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I cla-im the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LESTER COLUMBUS WOFFORD,

Witnesses:

J. W. MARTlN, A. B. WOODRUFF.

IOO 

